Curious George

Rating:
Summary: People, It's a children's book
Review: Nothing is sacred to the spectre of political correctness, so the negative reviews of "Curious George" shouldn't surprise me. The reviews likening George's story to the African slave trade are particularly puzzling: children do not think in those terms. I suggest that the folks who complain that it glorifies illegal animal trade read it more closely. George makes a lot of innocent mistakes, he doesn't mean to be bad, but the world is too fascinating for him to resist. He needs to have an authority figure looking out for him, and although he does try to get around the authority figure everyone knows the man with the yellow hat will save George from himself in the end. Yes, George is a monkey, but he is also a metophor for children everywhere. Every child in the world can relate to George, and that is why the books have remained popular for so long.

I loved Curious George as a child, and I am happy that my children love them as much as I do. If any book in the 4-8 age bracket deserves 5 stars it is Curious George.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible story for children
Review: Our family loves Curious George, but this book is absolutely horrible. It is a relic from an earlier world. The man captures George, puts him in a sack and takes him off to put him in a zoo. George smokes, as do a lot of other people in the book. Try to explain to a 2 or 3 year old why George is having a nice smoke before bed. Or try to explain why the man has captured George, stuffed him in a sack and taken him to live in a zoo. Other Curious George books are really great - we love the ones where he gets a bike, goes to the beach, goes to a Halloween party and goes to the pizzaria. However, the only way we can look at this one is after I cut out a lot of the pages.

Rating:
Summary: Children Love C. George!
Review: Say what you will all you PC book banners, but children will always love Curious George! He shows them that even when they make mistakes and aren't "perfect", they can still be forgiven and loved. He is also very cute and funny and I haven't yet met a five year old that can't relate!

Rating:
Summary: Curiouser and curiouser
Review: The world's most famous literary monkey. I hadn't read "Curious George" in years, and I was admittedly a little hesitant to do so when I saw the copyright date. 1941. Now due to the fact that George is originally from Africa, I had a sneaking fear and suspicion that there would be some terrible racist images to contend with. Imagine my surprise when I found that, as it happens, not a single horrid stereotype appears! Just the same, I have to point out that at the same time not a single positive stereotype appears either. This is a book bereft of people with skin that isn't white as newly driven snow. Bear this in mind.

Curious George does his darndest to live up to his name. A naughty little monkey, he is swiftly captured in Africa by the Man in the Yellow Hat (one prays he's no relation to "Tuck Everlasting"'s Man in the Yellow Suit). George is taken from his jungle paradise en route to the zoo. Along the way, George has a series of wild adventures. He takes a dip in the ocean (throwing up an amazing amount of saltwater and fish while he's rescued). He calls the fire department and is jailed. He escapes and flies around, balloons in hand. In the end, George is reunited with the Man in the Yellow Hat (who, despite the damage George has inflicted on the world and its civil servants, compensates only the balloon man). In the final parting shot of George, the monkey is happily ensconced in his new zoo life with the caption, "What a nice place for George to live!" This is definitely a pro-zoo book.

Personally, I've always been kind of taken with The Man in the Yellow Hat. Who the heck is this guy? Apparently he's a jaunty world adventurer with a penchant for monkeys. Most interesting is his striking resemblance to the pop on "Father Knows Best", pipe stuck squarely between his teeth, wise countenance advising his monkey ward. He isn't the best monkey watcher. Some might even argue that he's a bit lax in his attention, but he gets the job done. And you just gotta love the hat. Faaaabulous hat, yellow guy. All in all, it's a fine story. For kids who're interested in either monkeys or fiascos, this is a good monkey/fiasco tale. I'm a fiasco fan myself, so this book suits me fine. It's not, admittedly, my favorite but it has its charms.

Rating:
Summary: Curiouser and curiouser
Review: The world's most famous literary monkey. I hadn't read "Curious George" in years, and I was admittedly a little hesitant to do so when I saw the copyright date. 1941. Now due to the fact that George is originally from Africa, I had a sneaking fear and suspicion that there would be some terrible racist images to contend with. Imagine my surprise when I found that, as it happens, not a single horrid stereotype appears! Just the same, I have to point out that at the same time not a single positive stereotype appears either. This is a book bereft of people with skin that isn't white as newly driven snow. Bear this in mind.

Curious George does his darndest to live up to his name. A naughty little monkey, he is swiftly captured in Africa by the Man in the Yellow Hat (one prays he's no relation to "Tuck Everlasting"'s Man in the Yellow Suit). George is taken from his jungle paradise en route to the zoo. Along the way, George has a series of wild adventures. He takes a dip in the ocean (throwing up an amazing amount of saltwater and fish while he's rescued). He calls the fire department and is jailed. He escapes and flies around, balloons in hand. In the end, George is reunited with the Man in the Yellow Hat (who, despite the damage George has inflicted on the world and its civil servants, compensates only the balloon man). In the final parting shot of George, the monkey is happily ensconced in his new zoo life with the caption, "What a nice place for George to live!" This is definitely a pro-zoo book.

Personally, I've always been kind of taken with The Man in the Yellow Hat. Who the heck is this guy? Apparently he's a jaunty world adventurer with a penchant for monkeys. Most interesting is his striking resemblance to the pop on "Father Knows Best", pipe stuck squarely between his teeth, wise countenance advising his monkey ward. He isn't the best monkey watcher. Some might even argue that he's a bit lax in his attention, but he gets the job done. And you just gotta love the hat. Faaaabulous hat, yellow guy. All in all, it's a fine story. For kids who're interested in either monkeys or fiascos, this is a good monkey/fiasco tale. I'm a fiasco fan myself, so this book suits me fine. It's not, admittedly, my favorite but it has its charms.

Rating:
Summary: Curious About George?
Review: This book has several key characteristics that make it good for children. For instance the book is very colorful. Books with a lot of color attract kids eyes and excite them. Also this book introduces a comical character who likes to imitate what he sees others doing; this is typical of energetic children. The third is George's adventures, George often finds ways into them and out again before you are done laughing. Children tend to imagine themselves flying high in the sky with balloons or taking a ride on a ship. This character is fun for anyone who cares to remember their youth and imagination.

Rating:
Summary: No complaints here
Review: This book is an excellent story. The pictures are beautiful, and it's cute and very amusing. To those who seem angered about the capturing of the monkey, jail and other aspects of this story, try taking a different perspective. All of these things are a fact of life that we can't ignore. Our children are going to be introduced to these things in some way or another. Take this book as an opportunity to take an active role. Read the story and sit down and discuss any questions your children may have. That's what being a parent and teaching is all about. The story gives you an opportunity to approach these subjects in a way that is geared towards children. My child is 3 and has asked for this story numerous times. No nightmares have occurred. But, books are just like movies. As a parent you screen it first. If you find it inappropriate for your child, then don't read them the whole series. Don't read it at all. However, my daughter and I both love it and will continue to read it over and over.

Rating:
Summary: Curiousity is rated 5 Stars
Review: This book is appropriate for any one who likes a laugh. It brought a colorful image of a monkey full of fun that can question how we define a children books.

Rating:
Summary: It's a great tool to explain things to younge children
Review: This book is great for reading, and teaching. Maybe you have been holding off on teaching your children about jail, or maybe just haven't took the time to tell them about the jungle. I collect his books, simply because I love Geoge's personalaty. He gets into trouble, yet he's so inocent. I think H.A. Rey did an exceptional job with his childrens books. I still continue to read his books, and enjoy them.

Rating:
Summary: What's wrong with being curious?
Review: This famous children's book was the first of seven books by Rey about a monkey who is brought to the U. S. from Africa and who seems to have a penchant for getting into trouble. But, his curiosity keeps leading into new adventures and learning new things. The Ann Arbor reviewer of Oct. 7, 1998, clearly is angry at George. If that is the case, why not use the story to teach about rule breaking? I think it is very interesting to learn that the Reys had arrived in New York in 1940, having fled from the Germans invading France. In a way, they were just like George, forced to come to a new world and a new culture. I'll bet they got into trouble every now and then just because of their innocence and their curiosity.